Yangtze River Delta Charts New Path for Integration and Modernization
Leaders from the Yangtze River Delta region convened in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, from June 5 to 6, signaling a renewed commitment to regional integration and pioneering Chinese-style modernization. The symposium, themed “Writing a New Chapter in the Integration of the Yangtze River Delta and Being the Pioneer of Chinese-style Modernization,” brought together key stakeholders to discuss future development strategies and reinforce collaboration efforts.
Since the Yangtze River Delta integration was elevated to a national strategy, the region has seen deepening cooperation and significant achievements, solidifying its position as one of China’s most dynamic economic areas. According to the latest data, in the first quarter of 2023, the delta’s economic output reached 7.4 trillion yuan (approximately $1.02 trillion), accounting for about 25 percent of the national total. Major economic indicators in the region have outperformed those of other areas across the country.
At the symposium, leaders agreed to focus on the strategic positioning of “one pole, three zones, and one highland,” emphasizing the delta’s role as an active growth pole. The region aims to leverage each area’s strengths, deepen cross-provincial and cross-city cooperation, and drive development in other regions, thereby enhancing its vital function in China’s economic landscape.
The gathering highlighted the Yangtze River Delta’s determination to achieve breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation and to cultivate new quality productive forces. In an era where global technological innovation is accelerating, with significant advancements in fields like artificial intelligence and quantum information, the delta region is poised to capitalize on these trends.
The Yangtze River Delta boasts some of the strongest scientific and technological innovation capabilities and the most comprehensive industrial systems in the country. Recent statistics indicate that the region’s industrial scales of integrated circuits, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence account for 60 percent, 33 percent, and 33 percent of the national totals, respectively. The region’s research and development investment intensity reached 3.23 percent, nearly 0.7 percentage points above the national average.
Moving forward, the delta region plans to enhance original technological innovation capabilities, foster a globally competitive innovation ecosystem, and deeply integrate scientific and industrial advancements. Efforts will be directed towards advancing the construction of a digital Yangtze River Delta, positioning the region to lead in cultivating and developing new quality productive forces.
The symposium also underscored the delta’s role as a pioneer in opening up to the outside world and institutional reform. Embracing openness presents significant opportunities for the delta and serves as a crucial driver for achieving high-quality integrated development.
In 2022, the import and export value of the delta region totaled 15.16 trillion yuan, comprising 36.3 percent of the national total—up 0.5 percentage points from the previous year. The degree of openness continued to improve, and the quality of foreign investment utilization steadily increased. Notably, 30 new foreign-funded research and development centers were established in Shanghai, and foreign investment in Zhejiang’s manufacturing sector grew by 85.8 percent.
Looking ahead, the Yangtze River Delta will strive to promote institutional openness, broaden market access, and build a dual-circulation strategic hub. By actively advancing high-level coordinated openness, the region aims to create new advantages in international competition and cooperation.
The Yangtze River Delta region remains committed to aligning with national strategies and shouldering the responsibilities of pioneering Chinese-style modernization. Through concerted efforts and shared vision, the region is poised to write a new chapter in its integration journey, contributing significantly to China’s sustainable development and global influence.
Reference(s):
Playing the melody of Yangtze River Delta integration for the new era
cgtn.com
